The United States' continued use of unilateral measures, including Section 301 of the 1974 U.S. Trade Act, goes against the free-trade principles of the World Trade Organization, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry said in a report released Mar. 31.
The report also warns that Washington's measures in telecommunications and maritime transportation services may be in violation of the WTO's "stand still" principle, which prohibits the introduction of new restrictions inconsistent with international rules. The 1997 Report on the WTO Consistency of Trade Policies by Major Trading Partners was compiled by a subcommittee of the Industrial Structure Council, an advisory body to the trade minister.
The sixth annual report examines the trade policies and practices of Japan's 10 major WTO trading partners: the U.S., the European Union, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and Canada. In addition, the report includes accounts on China, Taiwan and Russia, whose accessions to the WTO are now under negotiation.